The Commander League Rotisserie Draft, Part 2!

Recently, I told you how I was going to approach our Commander Rotisserie Draft. In Part Two, I’ll lay out how the draft went, all 500 cards of it. I don’t want to bury the lead, so I’ll tell you that I drafted pretty much the deck I wanted to. I suppose that we’ll see in play if it is any good.

We drafted straight through from lunch, with ten- to fifteen-minute breaks after every two rotations (so at the ends of Rounds 10, 20, 30, and 40). We finished about an hour earlier than I expected, so we had plenty of time before dinner. We opened an extra bottle of wine (2009 Two Angels Petite Sirah High Valley) and chatted about the draft as I made goat cheese- and basil-stuffed chicken breasts and Gretchyn made jasmine rice and roasted green beans with sautéed mushrooms.

I paired it with two different Syrahs from Bedrock Wine Company, one the more rustic 2012 Syrah T ‘n’ S Hudson Vineyard South (which is Carneros fruit) and the other the more sophisticated 2012 Syrah Griffin’s Lair (Sonoma Coast). I was surprised that preferences ran toward the former. Both paired well with the dish. We had a leisurely dinner and culminated with the whole point of Day of Thrones 6: watching the first episode of the new season. No spoilers, but there was nudity and violence.

During lunch, Keith told us what his first pick was going to be: Erebos, God of the Dead. His intention was clearly to set a particular tone, which he did. I’m pretty sure it informed multiple choices down the road (I noticed a minimal amount of lifegain got drafted). It didn’t dissuade me from my plan to draft support cards first and then operational cards later, although I paid attention to how the other drafters were going about their picks, which led me to grab a few cards earlier than I otherwise might have. I obviously can’t talk about all 500 cards in detail without this thing going to 20,000 words. Having no interest in making your eyeballs bleed, I’ll hit the highlights. I’m going to list them by rotations of five rounds, which is ten picks.

We first revealed our commanders:

Keith

Me

Todd

Michael

Shea

My predictions were 1-of-3 on Keith, 3-of-3 on Todd, 0-of-3 on Michael, and 1-of-3 on Shea. Pretty sorry.

Rotation 1:

Rd 1	Pick	Rd 2	Pick
Keith	Erebos, God of the Dead	Sheldon	Kodama’s Reach
Sheldon	Solemn Simulacrum	Todd	Cyclonic Rift
Todd	Wood Elves	Michael	Reliquary Tower
Michael	Burnished Hart	Shea	Land Tax
Shea	Sorin, Grim Nemesis	Keith	Tempt with Discovery
Shea	Sun Titan	Keith	Karametra, God of Harvests
Michael	Kozilek, Butcher of Truth	Shea	Massacre Wurm
Todd	Sakura-Tribe Elder	Michael	Keranos, God of Storms
Sheldon	Cultivate	Todd	Oracle of Mul Daya
Keith	Fertilid	Sheldon	Seedborn Muse

Rd 3	Pick
Todd	Consecrated Sphinx
Michael	Phyrexian Metamorph
Shea	Elspeth, Sun’s Champion
Keith	Vigor
Sheldon	Coiling Oracle
Sheldon	Farhaven Elf
Keith	Thief of Blood
Shea	Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
Michael	Butcher of Malakir
Todd	Deadeye Navigator

Rd 4	Pick	Rd 5	Pick
Michael	Rite of Replication	Shea	Blind Obedience
Shea	Netherborn Phalanx	Keith	Genesis Wave
Keith	Sorin, Solemn Visitor	Sheldon	Lurking Predators
Sheldon	Eldrazi Displacer	Todd	Mystic Confluence
Todd	Skyshroud Claim	Michael	Insurrection
Todd	Survival of the Fittest	Michael	Homeward Path
Sheldon	Conjurer’s Closet	Todd	Command Tower
Keith	Aura Shards	Sheldon	Restoration Angel
Shea	Sorin, Lord of Innistrad	Keith	Opal Palace
Michael	Sorin Markov	Shea	Sunblast Angel

With Keith first-picking Erebos, I’m settled into my first three. Keith drafting Karametra, however, put me onto the line that both he and Todd (both of whom I battled with for green) were going for the business cards out of the gate. Todd and I had similar views on drafting support first, but Keith’s pick of Karametra told me that I needed to grab Blinky the Eldrazi pretty quickly (which Keith later confirmed was going to be one of his two picks). I knew that I would fight Todd for Consecrated Sphinx and Deadeye Navigator, but I didn’t expect him to grab them in Round 3.

Todd’s Round 2 picks of Cyclonic Rift and Oracle of Mul Daya are eminently reasonable; he later said he took Rift a little earlier than he might have just to keep it out of my hands. I wouldn’t have likely taken it before Round 5 or 6, but his pick of it pointed me to where he was heading. It also got me onto Lurking Predators earlier than I had hoped (especially with his pick of Survival of the Fittest), but I was aware of that possibility rearing its head. I had really hoped Karametra was going to fly under the radar, but whatevs.

Michael’s wheel of Insurrection and Homeward Path was funny, although it made me consider that he was definitely going to simply embrace the chaos, so trying to predict what he would do was just not worth it. Since we only shared blue and artifacts anyway, I concentrated on primarily Todd and Keith. I didn’t think that Shea would take any white cards that I couldn’t do without and have other functional replacements for.

Once I took Blinky, I had revealed my plan, so Conjurer’s Closet had to come next. Keith’s early pick of Genesis Wave was a bit of a dagger, but then Opal Palace seemed kind of random. I get that he was obviously going for the +1/+1 counter plan, but that’s not something anyone else would pick anyway. I think Todd’s pick of Command Tower got him twitchy, but I resolved to stay my course on waiting to pick lands.

Rotation 2:

Rd 6	Pick	Rd 7	Pick
Keith	Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice	Sheldon	Gigantoplasm
Sheldon	Mirari’s Wake	Todd	Phantasmal Image
Todd	Chaos Warp	Michael	Body Double
Michael	Dack’s Duplicate	Shea	Cathars’ Crusade
Shea	Decree of Justice	Keith	Sword of Body and Mind
Shea	Army of the Damned	Keith	Sword of War and Peace
Michael	Dictate of Erebos	Shea	Intangible Virtue
Todd	Duplicant	Michael	Tower of the Magistrate
Sheldon	Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite	Todd	Altered Ego
Keith	Decree of Pain	Sheldon	Progenitor Mimic

Rd 8	Pick
Todd	Acidic Slime
Michael	Oblivion Sower
Shea	Akroma’s Memorial
Keith	Austere Command
Sheldon	Reveillark
Sheldon	Karmic Guide
Keith	Deathbringer Liege
Shea	Vampiric Rites
Michael	Mimic Vat
Todd	Dualcaster Mage

Rd 9	Pick	Rd 10	Pick
Michael	Mindwrack Liege	Shea	Captain of the Watch
Shea	Eerie Interlude	Keith	Momentous Fall
Keith	Athreos, God of Passage	Sheldon	Vesuvan Shapeshifter
Sheldon	Greater Good	Todd	Sakashima’s Student
Todd	Avenger of Zendikar	Michael	Gather Specimens
Todd	Bribery	Michael	Clone Legion
Sheldon	Clever Impersonator	Todd	Exotic Orchard
Keith	Gideon, Ally of Zendikar	Sheldon	Sakashima the Impostor
Shea	Purphoros, God of the Forge	Keith	Realm Seekers
Michael	Darksteel Ingot	Shea	Alliance of Arms

The biggest part of these five picks for me was knowing that the Clone wars were about to begin. Michael snagging Dack’s Duplicant (which I couldn’t have, but I’m sure he didn’t want Todd to have it) followed by Todd grabbing Duplicant signaled the beginning. I knew that I was in on this plan, and I knew that I’d have to have the stomach for the fight. I’d have to go all-in on it now or abandon it. Fortunately, Michael seemed to give up on it right away. Todd stuck with it a bit, but when I put the stamp on my intentions with the final three picks being Clones, I think that was enough for everyone.

There were two other significant moves for me here. First was the very sweet wheel of Reveillark and Karmic Guide. I felt like I had to wheel both of them; otherwise, if I picked one, another player would grab the other. The other was the follow-up selection of Greater Good. It’s a great card, but I suspected it would go later, maybe in Round 12 or 13. Something—and I honestly can’t tell you what—told me that Todd had his mind on it for his upcoming wheel. Turns out that I was right. I got a big [expletive deleted] from him when I took it. It felt good. Plus, I got an awesome card.

Michael once again went for the humor when he picked Tower of the Magistrate after Keith’s double-Sword wheel.

Rotation 3

Rd 11	Pick	Rd 12	Pick
Keith	Martial Coup	Sheldon	Blade of Selves
Sheldon	Sensei’s Divining Top	Todd	Seasons Past
Todd	Sol Ring	Michael	Urabrask the Hidden
Michael	Ugin, the Spirit Dragon	Shea	Return to Dust
Shea	Grave Titan	Keith	Scavenging Ooze
Shea	Inferno Titan	Keith	Forgotten Ancient
Michael	Tamiyo, the Moon Sage	Shea	Descend Upon the Sinful
Todd	Karn Liberated	Michael	Aether Snap
Sheldon	Woodfall Primus	Todd	Thragtusk
Keith	Rout	Sheldon	Garruk Wildspeaker

Rd 13	Pick
Todd	Soul of the Harvest
Michael	Triskaidekaphobia
Shea	Luminarch Ascension
Keith	Mikaeus, the Lunarch
Sheldon	Mystic Snake
Sheldon	Draining Whelk
Keith	Phantom Nishoba
Shea	Reiterate
Michael	Aether Snap
Todd	Venser, Shaper Savant

Rd 14	Pick	Rd 15	Pick
Michael	Damnation	Shea	Westvale Abbey
Shea	Deadly Tempest	Keith	Anguished Unmaking
Keith	Drana, Liberator of Malakir	Sheldon	Yavimaya Elder
Sheldon	Avacyn, Angel of Hope	Todd	Explosive Vegetation
Todd	Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger	Michael	Mirrorpool
Todd	Birthing Pod	Michael	Reflecting Pool
Sheldon	Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre	Todd	Gaea’s Cradle
Keith	Unmake	Sheldon	Kruphix, God of Horizons
Shea	Utter End	Keith	Mageta the Lion
Michael	Thassa, God of the Sea	Shea	Karmic Justice

Sol Ring finally went with pick number 103 of the draft. As Aaron Forsythe tweeted, “It’s no Tower of the Magistrate.” Honestly, I knew it was still there and felt like Sensei’s Divining Top is just better. Sure, it can lead to explosive starts, but games are going to have five players in them. A first- or second-turn Sol Ring is just going to lead to getting orc-piled.

Todd repaid the favor of taking something right before I was about to in Round 12 by snatching the Thragusk I had my eyes on. And Keith got what I thought was super-secret tech in Phantom Nishoba (since it has zero power, Reveillark can bring it back), although I wasn’t going to pick it until the 30s. Once again, I knew that my wheel would have to be a both-of-a-kind thing, so in Round 13 I took the counterspells, Mystic Snake and Draining Whelk.

Rotation 4

Rd 16	Pick	Rd 17	Pick
Keith	Molder Slug	Sheldon	Dauntless Escort
Sheldon	Copy Enchantment	Todd	Zendikar Resurgent
Todd	Ulvenwald Hydra	Michael	Overseer of the Damned
Michael	Supplant Form	Shea	Dictate of Heliod
Shea	Tamiyo’s Journal	Keith	Kalonian Hydra
Shea	Phyrexian Arena	Keith	Undergrowth Champion
Michael	Grave Betrayal	Shea	Red Elemental Blast
Todd	Bane of Progress	Michael	Radiate
Sheldon	Ghostway	Todd	World Breaker
Keith	Kalemne’s Captain	Sheldon	Evolutionary Leap

Rd 18	Pick
Todd	Gilded Drake
Michael	Artisan of Kozilek
Shea	Scout’s Warning
Keith	Ashen Rider
Sheldon	Glen Elendra Archmage
Sheldon	Eternal Witness
Keith	Predator Ooze
Shea	Luminate Primordial
Michael	Sepulchral Primordial
Todd	Scourge of the Throne

Rd 19	Pick	Rd 20	Pick
Michael	Dack Fayden	Shea	Wild Ricochet
Shea	Dragonmaster Outcast	Keith	Tireless Tracker
Keith	Dregs of Sorrow	Sheldon	Angel of Serenity
Sheldon	Mercurial Pretender	Todd	Mosswort Bridge
Todd	Hornet Queen	Michael	Grafdigger’s Cage
Todd	Asceticism	Michael	Sculpting Steel
Sheldon	Terastodon	Todd	Brutalizer Exarch
Keith	Bitter Ordeal	Sheldon	Tooth and Nail
Shea	Wall of Omens	Keith	Dragonlord Dromoka
Michael	Bloodchief Ascension	Shea	Elspeth, Knight-Errant

We all start to settle in here and sculpt the decks we want to play. With the number of good enchantments and artifacts, I like Todd’s choice of Bane of Progress. Looking at his list, he’s really not going to hurt himself too badly if he has to use it. I didn’t have Tooth and Nail on my original list, but when Michael picked Grafdigger’s Cage, I felt as though it was my duty to reinforce the assertion of not negotiating with terrorists. Todd’s pick of Scourge of the Throne was rather awesome. I hope I can Clone it a few times.

I picked Terastodon late because Todd had yet to pick it—and he said that if he couldn’t cascade into it with Maelstrom Wanderer, he didn’t really want it. Todd grabbed Zendikar Resurgent, which I simply thought wasn’t going to be on anyone else’s radar. I suppose it would have been too greedy to expect both that and Mirari’s Wake. Maybe I’ll pick up Mana Reflection off the waiver wire.

Rotation 5

Rd 21	Pick	Rd 22	Pick
Keith	Hunter of Eyeblights	Sheldon	Krosan Verge
Sheldon	Temple of the False God	Todd	Plea for Power
Todd	Sneak Attack	Michael	Nucklavee
Michael	Mirror Match	Shea	Jeskai Barricade
Shea	Akroma, Angel of Wrath	Keith	Godless Shrine
Shea	Akroma, Angel of Fury	Keith	Temple Garden
Michael	Sudden Spoiling	Shea	Dust Elemental
Todd	Profaner of the Dead	Michael	Talent of the Telepath
Sheldon	Breeding Pool	Todd	Greenwarden of Murasa
Keith	Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter	Sheldon	Twincast

Rd 23	Pick
Todd	Tropical Island
Michael	Brand
Shea	Merciless Eviction
Keith	Emeria Shepherd
Sheldon	Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Sheldon	Faith’s Reward
Keith	Twilight Shepherd
Shea	Stonehewer Giant
Michael	Sangromancer
Todd	Alchemist’s Refuge

Rd 24	Pick	Rd 25	Pick
Michael	Kaervek the Merciless	Shea	Spear of Heliod
Shea	Liliana of the Dark Realms	Keith	Hythonia the Cruel
Keith	Archangel of Thune	Sheldon	Saffi Eriksdotter
Sheldon	Arachnogenesis	Todd	Phyrexian Ingester
Todd	Deepfathom Skulker	Michael	Endless Whispers
Todd	Arcanis the Omnipotent	Michael	Spawning Bed
Sheldon	Mulldrifter	Todd	Beast Within
Keith	Baneslayer Angel	Sheldon	Sigarda, Host of Herons
Shea	Ajani Steadfast	Keith	Wave of Reckoning
Michael	Kulrath Knight	Shea	Chandra, Flamecaller

Once again, I spent this rotation just picking cards off my list. One of the reasons it occurred to me to take Tooth and Nail at the end of the previous rotation was that it wouldn’t signal my intentions for the next one: picking up lands.

When I drafted Kozilek, the Great Distortion, someone finally figured out that I can have all the colorless mana I want via Kruphix, God of Horizons. Love Michael’s choice of Kulrath Knight, but I suspect that Keith likes it not at all.

Rotation 6

Rd 26	Pick	Rd 27	Pick
Keith	Orzhov Basilica	Sheldon	Edric, Spymaster of Trest
Sheldon	Eldrazi Monument	Todd	Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Todd	Lifeblood Hydra	Michael	Teferi’s Puzzle Box
Michael	Seizan, Perverter of Truth	Shea	Elspeth Tirel
Shea	Terramorphic Expanse	Keith	Pontiff of Blight
Shea	Evolving Wilds	Keith	Tree of Redemption
Michael	Anvil of Bogardan	Shea	Ob Nixilis Reignited
Todd	Torpor Orb	Michael	Dictate of Kruphix
Sheldon	The Great Aurora	Todd	Conclave Naturalists
Keith	Karlov of the Ghost Council	Sheldon	Marshal’s Anthem

Rd 28	Pick
Todd	Crystal Shard
Michael	Increasing Vengeance
Shea	Sword of Fire and Ice
Keith	Guiltfeeder
Sheldon	Slithermuse
Sheldon	Diluvian Primordial
Keith	Horobi, Death’s Wail
Shea	Basilisk Collar
Michael	Dictate of the Twin Gods
Todd	Avalanche Riders

Rd 29	Pick	Rd 30	Pick
Michael	Fevered Visions	Shea	Grave Pact
Shea	Sword of Feast and Famine	Keith	Justice
Keith	Unstoppable Ash	Sheldon	Emeria, the Sky Ruin
Sheldon	Aura Thief	Todd	Submerge
Todd	Elvish Visionary	Michael	Aether Flash
Todd	Imperial Recruiter	Michael	Confusion in the Ranks
Sheldon	Cauldron of Souls	Todd	Frost Titan
Keith	Silklash Spider	Sheldon	Rampant Growth
Shea	Comeuppance	Keith	Magnigoth Treefolk
Michael	Repercussion	Shea	Agonizing Demise

At this point, it’s just utility and cool stuff to blink. I’m obviously on the Roon plan. I pick up a few things which help me recover from the inevitable battlefield wipe or not fall prey to it at all. Michael’s choice of Repercussion made me scratch my head a bit, since he didn’t also pick up a bunch of other damage spells. Confusion in the Ranks gets him back on track for me not knowing what the heck he’s doing other than being completely random.

Rotation 7

Rd 31	Pick	Rd 32	Pick
Keith	Thawing Glaciers	Sheldon	Command Beacon
Sheldon	Cryptic Command	Todd	Flooded Grove
Todd	Stingerfling Spider	Michael	Terrain Generator
Michael	Myriad Landscape	Shea	Martyr’s Bond
Shea	Crypt Ghast	Keith	Temple of Silence
Shea	Hundred-Handed One	Keith	Temple of Plenty
Michael	Cascade Bluffs	Shea	Liliana Vess
Todd	Shardless Agent	Michael	Tempt with Reflections
Sheldon	Crackdown	Todd	Synthetic Destiny
Keith	Savannah	Sheldon	Vesuva

Rd 33	Pick
Todd	Spinerock Knoll
Michael	Sulfur Falls
Shea	Spoils of Blood
Keith	Indomitable Ancients
Sheldon	Wall of Reverence
Sheldon	Serra Avatar
Keith	Tangle Angler
Shea	Demoralize
Michael	Black Sun’s Zenith
Todd	Reality Shift

Rd 34	Pick	Rd 35	Pick
Michael	False Cure	Shea	Gideon’s Phalanx
Shea	Mirror Strike	Keith	Champion of Lambholt
Keith	Swooping Talon	Sheldon	Elemental Bond
Sheldon	Boundless Realms	Todd	Ondu Giant
Todd	Plasm Capture	Michael	Blood Crypt
Todd	Spelljack	Michael	Bojuka Bog
Sheldon	Wooded Bastion	Todd	Nissa, Vastwood Seer
Keith	Juniper Order Ranger	Sheldon	Brushland
Shea	Fork	Keith	Retribution of the Ancients
Michael	Relic of Progenitus	Shea	Grab the Reins

Shea exposes my biggest missed opportunity by taking Martyr’s Bond. I had completely forgotten about the card. Hopefully, I’ll be able to either copy it with Copy Enchantment or steal it with Aura Thief. My wheel of Wall of Reverence / Serra Avatar was more for the laughs than anything—although I think there might not be enough targeted removal to discourage me from playing the combo. It’s certainly the right Tooth and Nail target.

Rotation 8

Rd 36	Pick	Rd 37	Pick
Keith	High Sentinels of Arashin	Sheldon	Stonehorn Dignitary
Sheldon	Knight of the White Orchid	Todd	Mystic Retrieval
Todd	Time Warp	Michael	Skyscribing
Michael	Vivid Crag	Shea	Darkness
Shea	Harsh Sustenance	Keith	Altar of Dementia
Shea	Hushwing Gryff	Keith	Mindcrank
Michael	Consume the Meek	Shea	Into the Core
Todd	Fact or Fiction	Michael	Demonic Tutor
Sheldon	Rhystic Study	Todd	Temple of Mystery
Keith	Geth, Lord of the Vault	Sheldon	Urban Evolution

Rd 38	Pick
Todd	Sphinx of Uthuun
Michael	Spiteful Visions
Shea	Radiant Purge
Keith	Undercity Informer
Sheldon	Vesuvan Doppelganger
Sheldon	Clone
Keith	Trepanation Blade
Shea	Holy Day
Michael	Ghostly Flame
Todd	Ghostly Flicker

Rd 39	Pick	Rd 40	Pick
Michael	Grixis Panorama	Shea	Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Shea	White Sun’s Zenith	Keith	Sands of Delirium
Keith	Protean Hydra	Sheldon	Reya Dawnbringer
Sheldon	Blue Sun’s Zenith	Todd	Scalding Tarn
Todd	Oblivion Stone	Michael	Crosis’s Catacombs
Todd	Fierce Empath	Michael	Watery Grave
Sheldon	Make A Stand	Todd	Misty Rainforest
Keith	Spirit of the Labyrinth	Sheldon	Sungrass Prairie
Shea	Firemane Avenger	Keith	Sewer Nemesis
Michael	Havengul Lich	Shea	Aurelia, the Warleader

This is pretty much the last round in which we have to worry about anyone taking stuff that we want away from us. I double-check the count three times to make sure I don’t cut myself short on the U/W cards, which I’ll have all to myself. Todd’s pickup of Fact or Fiction and the Fact or Fiction Sphinx is amusing; he suggested Rhystic Study, and I realized that it’s a pretty solid choice. Todd laughs when I pick Stonehorn Dignitary, wondering if anyone besides him ever gets targeted with it. Maybe Shea when he has all that Aurelia, the Warleader / Gisela, Blade of Goldnight stuff going on, but it’s pretty much going to be just Todd.

Rotation 9

Rd 41	PICK	Rd 42	PICK
Keith	Whetstone	Sheldon	Cloudstone Curio
Sheldon	Forbidden Orchard	Todd	Bane of Bala Ged
Todd	Volcanic Island	Michael	Elemental Augury
Michael	Pain Magnification	Shea	Oath of Chandra
Shea	Fervent Charge	Keith	Gavony Township
Shea	Ankle Shanker	Keith	Karn, Silver Golem
Michael	Everlasting Torment	Shea	Oath of Gideon
Todd	Legion Loyalist	Michael	Phenax, God of Deception
Sheldon	Planar Cleansing	Todd	Temur Ascendancy
Keith	Dirtcowl Wurm	Sheldon	Crush of Tentacles

Rd 43	PICK
Todd	Fires of Yavimaya
Michael	Breaking // Entering
Shea	Call the Gatewatch
Keith	Assault Formation
Sheldon	Venser, the Sojourner
Sheldon	Supreme Verdict
Keith	Woodland Cemetery
Shea	Oblation
Michael	Oona, Queen of the Fae
Todd	Kessig Wolf Run

Rd 44	PICK	Rd 45	PICK
Michael	Memory Plunder	Shea	Painful Truths
Shea	Avatar of Slaughter	Keith	Bayou
Keith	Twilight Mire	Sheldon	Lavinia of the Tenth
Sheldon	Brago, King Eternal	Todd	Dragonlord Atarka
Todd	Xenagos, God of Revels	Michael	Vela the Night-Clad
Todd	Xenagos, the Reveler	Michael	Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
Sheldon	Sphinx’s Revelation	Todd	Shaman of the Great Hunt
Keith	Murmuring Bosk	Sheldon	Ephara, God of the Polis
Shea	Nomad Outpost	Keith	Overgrown Tomb
Michael	Crumbling Necropolis	Shea	Read the Bones

No surprises here as we just draft cards that no one else can get. Tom Delia will love my choice of Ephara, God of the Polis.

Rotation 10

Rd 46	Pick	Rd 47	Pick
Keith	Grim Backwoods	Sheldon	Tundra
Sheldon	Grand Arbiter Augustin IV	Todd	Taiga
Todd	Frontier Bivouac	Michael	Polluted Delta
Michael	Evil Twin	Shea	Master Warcraft
Shea	Iroas, God of Victory	Keith	Corpsejack Menace
Shea	Mardu Charm	Keith	Korozda Gorgon
Michael	Gem of Becoming	Shea	Intimidation Bolt
Todd	Wooded Foothills	Michael	Dimir Doppelganger
Sheldon	Hallowed Fountain	Todd	Stomping Ground
Keith	Sandsteppe Citadel	Sheldon	Seaside Citadel

Rd 48	Pick
Todd	Fire-Lit Thicket
Michael	Sunken Ruins
Shea	Oreskos Explorer
Keith	Lord of Extinction
Sheldon	Mystic Gate
Sheldon	Glacial Fortress
Keith	Ivorytusk Fortress
Shea	Crackling Doom
Michael	Nemesis of Reason
Todd	Bloodbraid Elf

Rd 49	Pick	Rd 50	Pick
Michael	Cruel Ultimatum	Shea	Archangel Avacyn
Shea	Gleam of Battle	Keith	Dark Impostor
Keith	Spiritmonger	Sheldon	Praetor’s Counsel
Sheldon	Devout Lightcaster	Todd	Guided Passage
Todd	Decimate	Michael	Dingus Staff
Todd	Savage Ventmaw	Michael	Force Spike
Sheldon	Akroma’s Vengeance	Todd	Surrak Dragonclaw
Keith	Anafenza, the Foremost	Sheldon	Garruk’s Packleader
Shea	Sunforger	Keith	Ghave, Guru of Spores
Michael	Duskmantle Seer	Shea	Lapse of Certainty

We decide to add a 100th pick just to make things round off nicely. I pick Grand Arbiter Augustin IV in this round just to send signals—mostly the signal that it could get played, but it’s pretty much only going to if someone demonstrates their deck is just too fast (which I don’t think will happen).

We all seem to go with the idea that no one will be getting out of hand too early, although with Sol Ring, I suppose Todd has some explosive draws. Devout Lightcaster gets a raised eyebrow from Keith, Shea, and Michael and some applause from Todd. Michael’s choice of Dingus Staff is pretty funny, but I suspect it won’t be so amusing when we’re getting killed by it.

While there are a few cards I wish I would have gotten, like Sun Titan, Karametra, Zendikar Resurgent, and the techy Phantom Nishoba, I’m extremely happy with my draft. It would have been really greedy to think I could get everything I want plus Cyclonic Rift and Genesis Wave.

Todd and I seem to have the tightest decks. I’m reasonably sure that his will be the one which sets the early pace in most games. It’s clear that every one of us has cards which do stuff, some of it thoroughly insane.

When next we meet, I’ll tell you about the specific deck I’m going to build out of this pile, how we’ve set up the League points system, and how the waiver wire will work.

Check out our awesome Deck List Database for the last versions of all my decks:

ADUN’S TOOLBOX;

ANIMAR’S SWARM;

AURELIA GOES TO WAR;

CHILDREN of a LESSER GOD;

DEMONS OF KAALIA;

EREBOS and the HALLS OF THE DEAD;

GLISSA, GLISSA;

HELIOD, GOD OF ENCHANTMENTS;

DREAMING OF INTET;

FORGE OF PURPHOROS;

KARN, BEATDOWN GOLEM;

HALLOWEEN WITH KARADOR;

KARRTHUS, WHO RAINS FIRE FROM THE SKY;

KRESH INTO THE RED ZONE;

LAVINIA BLINKS;

LAZAV, SHAPESHIFTING MASTERMIND;

ZOMBIES OF TRESSERHORN;

MELEK’S MOLTEN MIND GRIND;

MERIEKE’S ESPER CONTROL;

THE MILL-MEOPLASM;

MIMEOPLASM DO-OVER;

NATH of the VALUE LEAF;

NYLEA OF THE WOODLAND REALM;

OBZEDAT, GHOST KILLER;

PURPLE HIPPOS and MARO SORCERERS;

ZEGANA and a DICE BAG;

RITH’S TOKENS;

YOU DID THIS TO YOURSELF;

RURIC THAR AND HIS BEASTLY FIGHT CLUB;

THASSA, GOD OF MERFOLK;

THE ALTAR of THRAXIMUNDAR;

TROSTANI and HER ANGELS;

THE THREAT OF YASOVA;

RUHAN DO-OVER;

KARADOR DO-OVER;

KARRTHUS DO-OVER

If you’d like to follow the adventures of my Monday Night RPG group (in a campaign that’s been alive since 1987 and this summer will be running a prequel to our saga The Lost Cities of Nevinor), ask for an invitation to the Facebook group “Sheldon Menery’s Monday Night Gamers.”